Chrysanthemum plant named ‘PPP FORZ06’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Chrysanthemum  plant cultivar is disclosed, characterized by large, decorative type inflorescences, consistent flowering response to short days, blooming consistently after 49 days of short day length, red-bronze ray florets, free branching habit, and a consistent natural season flowering habit during the third week of September.

Latin name of the genus and species: Chrysanthemum morifolium.

Variety denomination: ‘PPP FORZ06’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new cultivar ‘PPP FORZ06’ is a product of a naturally occurringwhole plant mutation of ‘Forza Orange’ (not patented in the UnitedStates). The new cultivar was discovered in an outdoor trial garden andselected as a single plant by Dirk Pieters in September of 2000 in acultivated area of Oostnieuwkerke, Belgium.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘PPP FORZ06’ by terminalcuttings was performed in Oostnieuwkerke, Belgium and Oxnard, Calif.,and has shown that the unique features of this new cultivar are stableand reproduced true to type on successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘PPP FORZ06’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, daylength, and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘PPP FORZ06.’ These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘PPP FORZ06’ as a new and distinct Chrysanthemumcultivar:

-   -   1. Large, red-bronze, decorative type inflorescences;    -   2. Free branching habit;    -   3. Consistent natural season flowering habit during the third        week of September; and    -   4. Consistent flowering response to short days, blooming        consistently after 49 days of short day length.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘PPP FORZ06’ are similar to plants of theparent variety, ‘Forza Orange’ in most horticultural characteristics,however plants of the new cultivar ‘PPP FORZ06’ are shorter but have awider plant spread. Also, the new cultivar ‘PPP FORZ06’ has a widerinflorescence diameter. Finally, ‘PPP FORZ06’ has red ray floretscompared to the bright orange ray florets of the parent ‘Forza Orange.’

In comparison to the commercially available variety ‘PPP CON OR05’ (U.S.Plant Pat. No. 18,094), ‘PPP FORZ06’ is smaller in both height and plantspread. Additionally, the new variety ‘PPP FORZ06’ has more leaves perlateral branch. Further, the new variety ‘PPP FORZ06’ has a smallerinflorescence diameter and has multicolored bronze-red ray floretscompared to the orange-red ray florets of ‘PPP CON OR05.’

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying drawing illustrates in full color a typical plant of‘PPP FORZ06’ grown in a 2 gallon container. One cutting was used in thepot, planted mid May and grown under outdoor field conditions. Thecolors are as nearly true as is reasonably possible in a colorrepresentation of this type.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observationsand measurements describe ‘PPP FORZ06’ plants grown in Oxnard, VenturaCounty, Calif., during the months of May through October 2006. Thegrowing temperature ranged from 12° C. to 15° C. at night to 12° C. to20° C. during the day. Measurements and numerical values representaverages of typical flowering types.

-   Botanical classification: Chrysanthemum morifolium cultivar ‘PPP    FORZ06.’-   Commercial classification: Garden-type Chrysanthemum.

PROPAGATION

-   Time to rooting: 7 to 14 days at approximately 21° C.-   Root description: Fine, fibrous.

PLANT

-   Growth habit: Mounding herbaceous perennial.-   Height: Approximately 21 cm.-   Plant spread: Approximately 42 cm.-   Growth rate: Moderate.-   Branching characteristics: Free Branching.-   Length of lateral branches: Approximately 17 cm.-   Number of leaves per lateral branch: Approximately 24.-   Age of plant described: Approximately 148 days.

FOLIAGE

-   Leaf:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate single.        -   Average length.—Approximately 5.7 cm.        -   Average width.—Approximately 2.8 cm.        -   Shape of blade.—Ovate.        -   Apex.—Acuminate.        -   Base.—Attenuate.        -   Attachment.—Stalked.        -   Margin.—Serrate.        -   Texture of top surface.—Lightly pubescent.        -   Texture of bottom surface.—Lightly pubescent.        -   Leaf internode length.—Approximately 1 cm.        -   Color.—Young foliage upper side: Near Yellow-Green 147A.            Young foliage under side: Near Yellow-Green 148A. Mature            foliage upper side: Near Green 137A. Mature foliage under            side: Near Yellow-Green 148A.        -   Venation.—Type: Palmately net. Venation color upper side:            Near Yellow-Green 147B. Venation color under side.: Near            Yellow-Green 148B.-   Petiole:    -   -   Average length.—Approximately 1.2 cm.        -   Color.—Near Yellow-Green 148B.        -   Diameter.—Approximately 0.2 cm.

BLOOM

-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Flowering habit.—Induced by darkness period greater than            13.5 hours, approximately 49 days of appropriate day length            required to induce and develop blooms.        -   Inflorescence form.—Decorative.        -   Natural flowering season.—Approximately the third week in            September.        -   Number of inflorescences per lateral branch.—Approximately            7.        -   Inflorescence diameter.—Approximately 4.5 cm.        -   Inflorescence depth.—Approximately 1.3 cm.        -   Inflorescence longevity on plant.—Approximately 28 to 33            days.        -   Persistence.—Persistent.-   Ray florets:    -   -   Appearance.—Matte.        -   Texture.—Smooth.        -   Average number of ray florets per inflorescence.—172.        -   Shape.—Oblanceolate.        -   Aspect.—Flat.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Apex.—Obtuse.        -   Length.—Approximately 1.6 cm.        -   Width.—Approximately 0.4 cm.        -   Color.—Upper surface at first opening: Base: Near Yellow 9A.            Center: Near Greyed-Orange 172D. Apex: Near Red 46A. Upper            surface at maturity: Base: Near Yellow 9A. Center: Near            Greyed-Orange 171B. Apex: Near Red 46A. Upper surface at            fading: Base: Near Yellow 9A. Center and apex: Near            Greyed-Orange 172C. Under surface at first opening: Base:            Near Yellow 9A. Center and apex: Near Greyed-Red 181B. Under            surface at maturity: Base: Near Yellow 9A. Center and apex:            Near Greyed-Red 181A. Under surface at fading: Base: Near            Yellow 9A. Center and apex: Near Greyed-Red 181A.-   Disc florets:    -   -   Appearance.—Shiny.        -   Texture.—Smooth.        -   Average number of florets per disc.—Approximately 20.        -   Shape.—Cylindric.        -   Apex.—Obtuse.        -   Average length.—Approximately 0.4 cm.        -   Average width.—Approximately 0.1 cm.        -   Color.—At first opening: Near Yellow 12A. At maturity: Near            Yellow 13A. At fading: Near Yellow 13C.-   Peduncle:    -   -   Length.—At terminal end (shortest): Approximately 2.5 cm. At            lateral end (longest): Approximately 7 cm.        -   Angle to stem.—Acute.        -   Strength.—Moderate.        -   Color.—Near Green 137C.        -   Habit.—Upright.        -   Diameter.—Approximately 0.1 cm.        -   Surface texture.—Lightly pubescent.-   Inflorescence bud:    -   -   Length.—Approximately 1 cm.        -   Diameter.—Approximately 1 cm.        -   Form.—Globular.        -   Color.—Near Greyed-Purple 183C.-   Involucral bracts (phyllaries):    -   -   Appearance.—Matte.        -   Texture.—Lightly pubescent.        -   Number.—Approximately 28.        -   Shape.—Ovate.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Length.—Approximately 0.7 cm.        -   Width.—Approximately 0.3 cm.        -   Color.—Upper side: Near Green 137A. Under side: Near Green            137A.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

-   Ray florets:    -   -   Number of pistils per floret.—1.        -   Stigma shape.—2 branched.        -   Stigma color.—Near Yellow 9A.        -   Style color.—Near Yellow-Green 154D.        -   Style length.—Approximately 0.4 cm.        -   Stamens.—Absent.-   Disc florets:    -   -   Number of pistils per floret.—1.        -   Stigma shape.—Cylindric.        -   Stigma color.—Near Yellow 13A.        -   Style length.—Approximately 0.1 cm.        -   Style color.—Near Yellow-Green 154D.        -   Number of stamens per floret.—Approximately 5.        -   Anther shape.—Tubular.        -   Anther color.—Near Yellow 13B.        -   Pollen color.—No pollen detected.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

-   Disease resistance: Neither resistance nor susceptibility to    diseases or pests has been observed in this variety.-   Drought tolerance/cold tolerance: Flowering plants are hardy to low    temperatures about −2° C. Non-flowering plants are hardy in the    approximate range of 3° C. to −6° C., depending upon duration of    cold and amount of moisture in the soil. With adequate water plants    are hardy to a high temperature of 45° C.-   Fruit/seed production: Commercially, this plant is not used or    observed in a stage where seeds would be produced. Therefore, seed    production has not been observed.

1. A new distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum plant named ‘PPP FORZ06’ asherein illustrated and described.